Lay’s is on a Mission to Spread Smiles Across America

Feb 07, 2018

PLANO, Texas - Your favorite Lay’s potato chip flavors are about to bring a smile to your face for more reasons than one.

Lay’s – one of the marquee brands from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division – is on a mission to spread smiles in 2018. The brand is releasing specially designed bags featuring infectious smiles to create a ripple effect of smiles across the country in support of a life-changing cause.

For every purchase of Lay’s specially designed bags, a donation will be made to Operation Smile, an international children’s medical charity dedicated to improving the health and lives of children and young adults worldwide who suffer from cleft conditions by providing access to safe surgical care. With support from singer Jordin Sparks and the launch of a three-day pop-up Lay’s Smiles Experience in New York City, Lay’s is giving fans the opportunity to see the power of sharing a smile.

“Lay’s wants to remind everyone that their smiles can make a difference in other people’s lives,” said Sarah Guzman, senior director of marketing, Lay’s. “As a brand that has been celebrating joy for more than 75 years, our ‘Smile with Lay’s’ campaign features a partnership with Operation Smile so that each time someone gets a Lay’s Smile bag, they also help to give a smile to a child in need.”

A recent Lay’s survey found that Americans believe that smiling makes a positive difference not only in their lives, but also in the lives of others. Nine out of 10 people said seeing other people smile makes them happy and a staggering amount of people (95 percent) also agreed they would smile more often if they knew it could brighten someone’s day.

“Our brain mimics emotions we see in others, allowing us to experience what they are feeling so we can better respond,” said Shawn Achor, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage. “Since smiles are contagious, we need to make a conscious effort to smile more ourselves so that we can start creating a positive ripple effect with others. Research in my new book Big Potential shows the power of this ‘virtuous cycle’ – when you smile, it spreads to those around you, and then comes full circle back to you. One simple smile shows how connected we are to each other.”

Partnership with Jordin SparksAmericans need a reminder to smile more often. Nine out of 10 Americans surveyed in the Lay’s study agree people need to smile more, with nearly 70 percent agreeing that, if we all smiled more, the world would be a more positive place. That’s why Lay’s kicks off its mission to spread smiles this week with the support of singer and Operation Smile celebrity ambassador, Jordin Sparks. With a recognizably infectious smile herself, Sparks is helping launch Lay’s Smiles Experience featuring unique installations designed to make its guests grin from ear to ear. The fun and smile-inducing experience is located in the heart of New York City at 4 Times Square between W 42nd St. and W. 43rd St. and open to the public from Thursday, February 8 – Saturday February 10 from 11:00 AM EST – 6:30 PM EST.

“Smiling is something that comes so naturally to me that it’s hard to ever imagine what it would feel like if I couldn’t share my smile with the world,” said Jordin Sparks. “That’s why I’m so honored to partner with Lay’s and Operation Smile as we encourage people to simply smile for a good cause. We have the opportunity and ability to help spread smiles and make a difference in so many kids’ lives one smile at a time.”

Fans can find Lay’s specially designed bags on store shelves in retail locations nationwide starting February 12 through April 7. To support Lay’s in its mission to spread millions of smiles, fans are encouraged to get a smile and give a smile. For every bag purchased, a donation will be made to Operation Smile up to $1 million. Starting in late February, fans will also have the opportunity to purchase custom Lay’s bags featuring their own smile at www.Lays.com.

For more information on the “Smile with Lay’s” campaign, please visit www.Lays.com.

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Frito-Lay North America is the $15 billion convenient foods business unit of PepsiCo, whose headquarters are located in Purchase, NY. In addition to Frito-Lay, PepsiCo business units include Pepsi-Cola, Quaker Foods, Gatorade and Tropicana.